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My Mission to Lose 15 Pounds: Week 4

Hey there mom friends,
my name is Kate Rockland and I am on a mission to lose 15 pounds in 8 weeks,
just in time for bikini season! (OK, the bikini part is a lie. I am totally wearing
a one-piece.) The point is, I woke up one morning truly missing my size 8
clothes, all hung up neatly in my closet since I gave birth to two boys in two
years. I am determined, with the help ofHeidi Klum's personal trainer
David Kirsch, to drop the baby weight once and for all through healthy
recipes, new workouts, and a hell of a lot of moxie. I hope you'll join me on
my journey, and feel free to try this at home!

So, I've realized that losing 6 pounds feels exactly like being 6 weeks pregnant: You
think everyone can see the subtle changes in your body, but the only person who
does is your mom. "You're wasting away!" she exclaimed, squeezing me
affectionately around the waist. I ran 3 times this week: The first two runs I
got to 3 miles, but the second only 2. I see now why runners like the morning:
When I tried running in the afternoon it was already very humid, and I felt like
I was dragging a bag of sand behind me with each step. The only thing keeping
me going was my nifty new free app called Run Keeper, which tracks distance and
spits out tunes at the same time. I spoke to trainer David Kirsch this week, and one tip I took
away was to change not only what I
eat, but where. When I confessed to
him that my husband and I often have dinner in a bleary-eyed haze in front of
the TV, he suggested actually using the dinner table for, well, dinner: "The
goal is to truly enjoy your food," he said. While I still ate everything on my
plate, sitting at the table forced me to eat more slowly, and for my husband
and me to connect on a deeper level by conversing about our day. I haven't been
able to give up chocolate, and find myself still breaking off a piece every
night before bed, but I've switched to dark, which has antioxidants. I've also noticed my skin seems clearer. And, on an exciting note, I was finally able to button my prized blue pants (pictured). They still are too tight, but here's to hoping by next week they fit
comfortably.

Motivational quote I
used to get me through: "Sometimes
you get so in the zone, you forget to enjoy your passions. I love running, but
I also love the movies, relaxing on the beach, shopping and spending time with
my friends. Enjoying my life helps me enjoy my running." –Allyson Felix, Olympic runner

Workout Song: "I
Will Wait," by Mumford & Sons

Snacks: Greek
yogurt, organic strawberries

Meals: We took
the kids on a weekend road trip, and I immediately panicked: How would I not
pig out on vacation? Luckily, David, who often gets brought out to dinner with
celebrities to help them choose healthy meals off the menu, came to the rescue.
Here are his five tips for healthy eating at a restaurant:

1. Stay away from the bread
basket. If you are too hungry to wait, order a salad as soon as you sit down to
tide you over until your entrée is served.

2. Avoid anything that is breaded
or fried. When ordering fish or chicken, stick to things that are baked, seared
or grilled to avoid extra fat and oil.

3. If you find yourself at a
Mexican restaurant, say no to cheese and sour cream. Order something with fresh
ingredients such as fish or chicken tacos, rather than cheesy enchiladas.

4. Headed out for sushi? Follow
my Good, Better, Best philosophy. Good: Sushi roll with brown rice and low
sodium soy sauce. Better: Hand-cut roll with seaweed or cucumber and no
rice, wasabi and ginger as condiments. Best: Sashimi with edamame and fresh
lemon as a condiment.

5. I know a lot
of parents out there are guilty of ordering a salad and then picking at the
chicken fingers and French fries their kids order from the kids' menu. My
solution? Don't let your kids order off the kids' menu. Order a half portion
from the adults' menu, or have them share if you have more than one child.
They'll feel grown-up ordering off the adult menu, they won't be eating the
unhealthy food that is often on the kids' menu, and you won't ruin your diet by
munching on their macaroni and cheese.

I joined a local running
club and have been helping raise money for a 5-mile race taking place in a few
months. A cousin I was close to passed
away this month from cancer, and in her memory I raised $360 for the American
Cancer Society. It made me realize how getting into shape reaches into other
aspects of one's life. It's not about a number on a scale but a way of life. I
am up to 3 miles so far, and hope to continue training. With David I tried side
plank (instructions below) and a fun strength-training move called palm trees with 3-pound weights (pictured).

Side Plank to Forward Plank:

1. Lie on your belly. Clasp your hands together and raise your body so that you are balancing your forearms and the balls of your feet. Your body should be parallel to the floor and your abs tight. Suck your abs in, and don't drop your butt or curve your back.

2. Lift into a side plank on your right side by bringing your right hand forward so your forearm is perpendicular with your body and your left hand is on your hip. Hold for two seconds.

3. Return to the plank and then lift into a side plank on your left side. Continue to alternate sides 10 times.